Quote:
Originally Posted by iguanamanc
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Apologies for that.
I suppose you are correct about this forum being representative of society. I do not consider myself a racist - and I most certainly do not hold the view that my race is superior to another - although some people reading this thread might think otherwise.
This thread was meant to be a question about how Powell would fare as a Prime Minister in the late 60s, not now when he would be howled down at every possible occasion and would hardly have been allowed his freedom of speech.
The prime purpose of that speech was to open the debate on immigration at that time, as most of his colleagues in parliament were afraid to tackle it. That much has not changed in the ensuing forty years.
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No need to apologise.
People rarely consider themselves to be racist...publicly. An anonymous survey always produces different results.
As to the original question......I think I answered it (incidently I would have been around 15 when Powell made that speech). I saidthat Powell might have made a good Prime Minister in the 1870s (the implication being that he was already out of date with the revailing attitudes of the late 20th century). I might add he had no appreciation of "spin" or the common touch style needed in the 1970s.
It was stated that the speech was
incorrectly labeled the "Rivers of Blood" speech.....how could it be
incorrectly labelled?
Speehes get routinely labelled.......Martin Luther King, John F Kennedy, Winston Churchill probably did not pre-label speeches as "I Have A Dream", "I Am A Berliner", "Blood Sweat and Tears"
Journalists and historians routinely label them afterwards.
Powells speech has been labelled Rivers of Blood.
So how can that be incorrect......unless a person believes that it appears negative, prejudicial, racist even......perhaps Powells supporters would prefer a "softer" label.........but surely it would have been the same speech.
We have moved on in our terms of reference........"Curry and Chips", "Mind Your Language", "Love Thy Neighbour", "Till Death Us Do Part" and "It aint half Hot Mum" set a scene........no longer acceptable in 2008 (lets all phone Jon Gaunt.......political correctness gone maaaaaaaaaaaaad innit?)
but alas in 2008 the racists are more subtle......
its moved from the "n word" to
"I aint no racist BUT..." and codified language about work ethics, criminality, birth rates, anecdotes (usually exaggerated).
Can I just also make the point that racism is not necessarily a conservative "value". Often educated middle class people are much more sophisticated than the working class (working mens club colour bars, Smithfield meat porters, West Midlands car workers being the backbone of Powellite support).
But of course The Daily Mail (which backed Oswald Moseleys blackshirts in the 1930s) behaves to type in 2008, even if the racism is more subtle.